Blue Gate Antwerp (Antwerp - Belgium)
Blue Gate Antwerp (Antwerp - Belgium)
Blue Gate Antwerp is being developed to be a water-linked eco-effective industrial business park, with the aim of generating around 1,500 to 2,000 jobs in the initial phase. While sustainability is the key word in the Blue Gate Antwerp project, eco-effectiveness is the guiding principle. That means closing cycles: no waste and maximum reuse of water, materials and energy. New and innovative concepts in that field will provide a unique location for green companies.
The project is located at the site of the last urban wasteland of Antwerp South, covering and area of 64 hectares between the new Antwerp Court and the Hobokense Polder. The location was once home to one of the most important petroleum ports in the world, called “Petroleum South”, where fossil fuels were refined. Several types of pollution on the area are being eliminated (the cleansing works began on February 2017), such as heavy metals and mineral oils, to prepare the site for its new purpose.
Blue Gate Antwerp has 3 main target groups: logistics companies focusing on smart logistics and city-regional distribution; production companies from the environmental sector; research and development (R&D) institutes connected to environmental issues. The first building in the R&D zone will be an incubator and accelerator for start-ups in the field of sustainable chemicals named “BlueChem”, and it is set to open in 2018. The European Fund for Regional development provided a grant of about 3.4 million euros to support this project, the City of Antwerp is putting 4 million euros, and the Flemish Authorities are contributing with 868,000 euros.
Sources:
https://www.bluegateantwerp.eu/en
http://www.pro-realestate.be/epp/epp.asp?id=195&L=uk
https://www.dredgingtoday.com/2016/02/17/deme-wins-blue-gate-antwerp-development-project/
Improved Water management;
Improved Energy management;
Improved supports for business.
Description of the specific objectives:
- Recover a historically polluted area in the city of Antwerp;
- Promote clean and renewable energies and a green economy;
- Attract and support eco-innovative businesses that want to establish on the site.
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) comprising the Region of Flanders, City of Antwerp, Participatie Maatschappij Vlaanderen NV (Flanders Venture Capital Company), Waterwegen en Zeekanaal NV (Waterways & Sea Canal), AG Vespa, Enterprise & City Marketing/Employment and Economy, and the consortium of project developers Blue O’pen formed by DEME Environmental Contractors (DEC) and Bopro.